I started writing a ‘My Guys’ column about 10 years ago after I started to realize that my favorite part about drafting in fantasy hoops was taking a hype guy too early and making the draft room mad that they wouldn’t have a shot at getting that player. But it was a strategy that evolved over time.
When I first started playing fantasy hoops, sometime around 1991, I simply drafted basketball players I liked, with no clue about what kind of fantasy assets they might possess. Later, I learned that to win consistently you had to have two things: A killer instinct and the ability to draft with your head and not your heart. And while that kept me entertained for a few years, I started to figure out that all I really wanted to do was put together a team of players that had a chance to win AND that I could root for.
Maybe I tweaked what constituted me liking a player or maybe I just grew smarter over the years. In any case, people always seem to like this column and I try to find (mostly) young, up-and-coming players who might blow up this season, along with some of the old standby veterans that I seemingly can’t live without.
Am I telling you to reach for your guys a round or two early? Not exclusively, but sometimes it’s fun to shock the draft room and go get one of your guys a little early. It’s also different these days than it was in the 90s as everyone seems to have the same type of intel and there aren’t many secrets out there.
Sleepers are becoming a thing of the past so you have to reach a little to get the hyped-up players you really want, which I’m obviously fine with. So, without further ado, here is my 2023-24 version of ‘My Guys,’ exclusively for my new favorite website, Sportstopia!
And if you read my recent Mock Draft column, you may notice that I applied this strategy generously in that one, as well.
Round 1
Luka Doncic, DAL G
I should have just saved my first entry about Luka from five years ago and copy and paste it every year, because my tune never changes. Yes, I know he stinks at free throws, turns the ball over, plays for a team lacking the help he needs to win and misses games. But, if the constant whining to the officials hasn’t turned you against him, he’s still the most exciting player to watch.
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The counting stats are off the charts, he’s still just 24 and after five years of indisputable evidence that he can’t shoot free throws, I still think he can be an 80 percent shooter at the line one day.
I will probably be saying that for the next 10 years, but whatever. His ADP is sitting at about 3 and I’m going to continue to take him in every draft I can get him in unless I get the No. 1 pick. And even the acting president of the Luka fan club will be taking Nikola Jokic at No. 1. But outside of that, Luka is my pick.
And if Luka’s not available I’m hoping to have a Top 5 pick so I can get a shot at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Tyrese Haliburton.
Round 2
Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM PF/C
What’s not to love about JJJ? He’s 24, a shot-blocking and steals machine, will have 25 games sans Ja Morant (suspension) in which he should be an offensive machine, and unlike some of his contemporaries (Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Mitchell Robinson), is living up to the hype. He’s also an elite free throw shooter for his size, can hit 3-pointers and doesn’t turn the ball over.
If I miss out on JJJ, the other Round 1-2 guys I’d like to see fall into the second round include LaMelo Ball (not going to happen) and Mikal Bridges. I was fully on board the Bridges bandwagon last season after the trade and am excited to see what he can do this year.
Round 3
Victor Wembanyama OKC PF/C
I reached for Wemby at the end of Round 2 in my mock draft because I wanted to be sure to get him. A lot of people have jumped off the hype train and are suggesting he’s just going to be an average NBA player without the girth to be an elite big man.
I am not one of them. Even playing for Gregg Popovich and the risk that he’ll sit more than any of us would like to see, I’m all in on Wemby. And if it doesn’t happen this year, it’s coming next season. Like Coach Prime said, “Better get me now because this is the worst we’re gonna be.”
Wemby’s ADP sits at 30 but whether or not he’ll be available in Round 3 all depends on your league. I wanted to ensure I got him in that mock so I reached, but it’s not something I’ll do every time and he should be available in the early part of Round 3 in many leagues, at least for now.
If Wemby’s not available some of the other Round 3 targets I like are Desmond Bane (no Ja for 25 games) and Lauri Markkanen (last year was not a fluke).
Round 4
Chet Holmgren C OKC
Big men coming off serious foot injuries are risky business, but something tells me Holmgren is going to stay healthy and have a monster year. So much so that I reached for him in Round 3 of my mock. His ADP is sitting around 40 currently and, while that could go up or down before the drafts start counting, he should be available late in Round 3 or early in Round 4.
Other fourth-round players I’m into would include Walker Kessler, Dejounte Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Jalen Brunson and Myles Turner, depending on what my team looked like after the first three picks.
Round 5
Jalen Williams OKC SG/SF
Williams was a blast to watch last season and he’s getting some post-hype gruff due to the fact SGA might take over the league this season, while Josh Giddey and Holmgren are also going to have the ball in their hands a lot. But Williams is just 22, is coming off a solid rookie season and fully blew up in March when he averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 3-pointers and just 1.9 turnovers in 34 minutes per game (15 games). Just don’t draft the wrong Jaylin Williams from OKC.
Other Round 5 targets include Alperen Sengun, Giddey, Jarrett Allen and Franz Wagner. Call me crazy but Paolo Banchero is not really one of my guys. I get the hype and the upside but just didn’t love the 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, 74 percent free throw shooting, 42.7 percent field goal percentage and the 1.2 triples per game while getting 34 minutes a night and having no competition for the ball on a really bad team. He’ll probably prove me wrong at some point, but I’m OK with that.
Round 6
Derrick White BOS G
Marcus Smart is in Memphis (where he should do very well) and White could now take control of the Boston offense. He’s a little older at 29 but if you look at his 11 February games last season he averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.8 3-pointers. He’s not a great stealer of the ball but he’s lights-out from the free throw line and shoots it well from the field. I think he’s primed for his biggest season yet.
Other Round 6 targets include Jerami Grant, Tyrese Maxey (especially if James Harden sits out), Cameron Johnson, Devin Vassell and Michael Porter Jr. I’m not touching Zion Williamson with a 10-foot pole, but he went in Round 6 in that mock draft.
Round 7
Tyus Jones WAS PG
As long as Jones is the starting point guard for the Wizards, he should be good to go this season. He never really had big numbers in Memphis, but he was always trapped behind Morant, which won’t be the case in Washington. Yes, he might have to slap Jordan Poole around to get the ball out of his hands and the Wiz will be one of the worst teams in the league, but Jones should be a point guard steal in drafts this season. He’s 27 years old.
Other Round 7 targets include Buddy Hield, Marcus Smart and Morant.
Round 8
De’Anthony Melton PHI G
There’s a lot to love about Round 8 this season and here’s how the mock draft I’ve obsessively talked about throughout this column went:
- C.J. McCollum NOP G
- Draymond Green GSW PF/C
- Jalen Green HOU G
- Scoot Henderson POR PG
- Markelle Fultz ORL G
- Daniel Gafford WAS PF
- Austin Reaves LAL SG/SF
- Trey Murphy NOP F (he’s since had knee surgery and is out for three months)
- Shaedon Sharpe POR SG/SF
- Jabari Smith HOU PF/C
- De’Anthony Melton PHI G
- Mark Williams CHA C
I’m not touching Draymond Green. Danny Gafford currently doesn’t qualify as a center in Yahoo! and Trey Murphy is hurt. But I kind of like the rest of these guys. Just keep in mind C.J. McCollum takes a hit if Zion and Brandon Ingram can actually stay healthy, Jalen Green gets a boost from the absence of Kevin Porter Jr. but also takes a hit with the arrival of Fred VanVleet, and Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe’s value could be tied to what happens with Damian Lillard (we’re hearing Toronto is leading the way now).
So, after all that my preferred order is Melton, Mark Williams, Austin Reaves and Jabari Smith. I took Melton at the end of Round 8 and if Harden continues to fight with the Sixers and sits out or pouts his way out of Philly, Melton is going to blow up. His game is built for fantasy success if he can get a lead role. And Williams is on nearly everyone’s sleeper list as a breakout center candidate for Charlotte.
Round 9
Tre Jones SAS PG
Jones is in a similar position to that of Tyus Jones in Washington except that he’s four years younger and will be playing with Wemby. He made a huge leap last season by doubling up on his points, assists, steals and 3-pointers from the previous season, he shoots it well from everywhere and doesn’t turn the ball over much. Point guards are gold in fantasy these days and both of the Jones’ should be primed for big years without breaking your draft bank.
Other Round 9 targets include Keegan Murray (he can’t be that bad again, right?), Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Round 10
Bruce Brown IND G/SF
The Pacers paid Brown big money to come to Indy over the summer and while some depth charts don’t show him as a starter, I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s capable of holding offenses and defenses together on both ends of the floor and should be one of Haliburton’s favorite teammates. Coaches love him, Pacers fans will love him and I think he’ll do a little bit of everything for fantasy managers without hurting them anywhere. He’s a perfect Round 10 selection, in my opinion.
The Rest
Players I will be targeting in the later rounds include (in no particular order): Jordan Clarkson, Gary Trent Jr., Zach Collins, Immanuel Quickley, Amen Thompson, Jaden Ivey, Jarace Walker, Dennis Schroder (if Dame Lillard doesn’t show up in Toronto and ruin him), Obi Toppin, James Wiseman and Caleb Martin
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